Financial crime is constantly evolving, which means financial crime specialists must stay current with the latest compliance methods and techniques. To support this commitment to ongoing professional development, ACFCS requires certified specialists to maintain and strengthen their expertise through regular recertification and the continued earning of qualifying education credits.
To recertify, Certified Financial Crime Specialists must document 60 continuing education credits over a three-year period—earned through training, education, and relevant professional experience—and maintain an active membership for the duration of the recertification period. This process ensures that professionals uphold the highest standards in financial crime detection and prevention.
How to begin recertification
Begin your recertification process with ease—just complete these three simple steps to ensure your CFCS credential stays active and current.
Step 1:
Recertification Fee
Pay the recertification fee. If you are recertifying past 12/31 of your recertification cycle, please select the late fee.
Step 2:
Submit
Submit the signed affidavit found in the free Candidate Handbook to certification@acfcs.org.
Step 3:
Stay Active
An active ACFCS membership is required throughout the certification cycle and at the time of recertification. Please note that the membership and recertification fees are separate and billed individually.
Go to Membership →
Ensure your expertise stays sharp and your CFCS credential remains valid by earning and documenting 60 continuing education credits—including training, professional experience, and membership engagement—over your three-year certification cycle.
Recertification Activity Matrix
| Activity | Credits | Credit Limit |
ACFCS MembershipUninterrupted ACFCS membership over the three-year recertification cycle. Members are encouraged to actively engage in member benefits including reading member-only content, attending events, and participating in other learning and networking benefits. | 3 Per Year | 9 |
Professional ExperienceFull-time experience in fields related to financial crime compliance. | 10 Per Year | 30 |
TrainingAttendance at a conference, workshop, seminar, web seminar, symposium, or education or training session on financial crime topics. | 1 per 60 minutes | Unlimited |
Professional CertificationProfessional certification earned within the 3-year recertification cycle. These include CAMS, CFE, CIA, or similar credentials with a connection to the financial crime compliance field. | 5 per license | 10 |
ACFCS Community GroupsActive participation as a member or leader of an ACFCS community group. | 2 per year | 6 |
Event SpeakerParticipation as a speaker at an ACFCS conference, seminar, webinar, or workshop. | 1 per 60 minutes | Unlimited |
Authoring ContentAuthoring an article or other content for ACFCS publications, products, or initatives | 2 per publication | Unlimited |
Task Force or CommitteeParticipation on a Task Force or Committee supporting ACFCS projects and programs. | 2 per engagement | Unlimited |
Recertification deadline
The CFCS recertification deadline falls on December 31 of every third year from the year the certification was earned. To maintain CFCS, candidates must submit the signed recertification affidavit to certification@acfcs.org and pay the fee by their recertification deadline.
Recertification Audit
As part of the recertification audit process, ACFCS randomly selects a group of certified members each cycle to verify their submitted credits. Selected individuals must provide supporting documentation; failure to do so will result in recertification denial and loss of the CFCS credential.
Professional Experience:
Current CV or letter from employer
Training:
Certificate of participation or letter from event organizer
Professional Certification:
Copy of certificate or letter from certifying body
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